Page 30 of Keeping You

We get a day off before we both work the day shift. The first half of the shift is peaceful, we move through patients and everything goes smoothly. As I’m finishing my notes in a patients file, Samantha walks up to me.

“Grayson, it’s been so long since we’ve worked together. I’ve been working day shifts. Haven’t you missed me?”

I don’t dignify her question with an answer. If I had to name someone I hate, it would be her. She cost me something that could have been great, and that’s something I’ll never be able to forgive.

Her eyes dart behind me before she takes a step closer and rubs her hand up and down my arm. I stiffen.

She looks at my wedding ring before getting on her tip toes and whispering, “Grayson, we could have so much fun together.”

I take two large steps back until I’m out of her reach. “First of all, it’s Dr. Maxwell to you. Secondly, you’ve spotted my wedding ring several times and completely disregarded it. Well, I don’t. I won’t be cheating on my wife with you, or anyone else, for that matter. So, why don’t you keep things professional?”

I turn around and spot Hannah at the nurses’ station doing everything she can to avoid looking at us. I walk away before I can say anything stupid, like tell everyone Hannah is my wife.

I’m sitting in the cafeteria when Hannah joins me. She doesn’t say anything, just grabs the seat across from me, opens her phone, and starts eating. I know she’s reading, it’s what she likes to do in her down time. I don’t want to push this any farther than she’s willing to take it. I know it’s a big deal that she chose to sit with me.

When we return to our shift, I can feel Samantha watching me, but I can feel Hannah watching me, too. I enjoy having Hannah’s eyes on me. Knowing that somewhere in her subconscious she has some feeling for me that is making her watch me gives me hope that maybe I can convince her to stay after the ninety days.

CHAPTER 11

Hannah

Watching Samantha cling to Grayson had me wanting to puke. It made me flash right back to the moment in the supply closet. Watching him stand up for our marriage without coming out and saying I was his wife had butterflies flying around my stomach. I wanted to smile, but I held back. His back was to me the entire time. He had no idea I was there, so he wasn’t saying anything to put on a show for me. I had to reward him in some way without making a show of it, so I voluntarily joined him for our break.

I can’t help but watch him for the rest of the shift. No matter what issues I have with him, I have to admit he’s great with his patients. He listens to them and gets them out of here as quickly as possible. No one really enjoys being in the ER, but he makes his patients comfortable while they’re here.

When our shift is over, I meet Grayson at the car and he takes us home. We go through our regular routine. I shower while he makes us something to eat. We eat together and then he showers before settling on the couch, and I move to the bedroom to read my book before falling asleep.

Home.

Routine.

Two things I never thought I’d share with Grayson Maxwell of all people.

On Saturday, I go with Grayson to his game. I know the girls will be there, and it’s become a regular thing for us to all end up at their games.

I feel eyes on us the second we walk in together. We pause outside the dressing room, and Grayson says, “I’ll see you after.” He looks like he wants to say more but stops himself.

I nod, and he pushes into the dressing room.

The girls are on the bleachers beside the team’s bench, and I join them. Charlie spots me and calls my name, and I can’t help but smile at the little girl.

“Hi, girlie. How are you?” I ask.

“Good. Did Grayson tell you I said hi?”

My brows furrow. I didn’t know Grayson had met up with them. “You saw Grayson?” I ask, looking at Bailey, too.

Bailey shakes her head. “Baby Girl, when did you see Grayson?”

“With Daddy at the park. Daddy pushed me on the swing, and then I played on the slide. Grayson was talking about Samantha and Daddy laughed.”

I stiffen. Why was Grayson talking about Samantha? If I was falling into a comfortable spot with Grayson before, this snaps me right out of it. I was right. I can’t let myself get comfortable with Grayson, because he’s going to pull the same bullshit as before. He must have been putting on a show with Samantha at the hospital because it’s the work place. He’s probably beenseeing her this entire time. How can I be sure of where he’s been every time he’s left the house that wasn’t for a game. I know when his games are, and the girls would have said something if he hadn’t shown up.

I thought we were making progress, and here it is all crumpled up in front of me like a scrap piece of paper that’s been thrown in the garbage.

“Who’s Samantha?” Liv asks.

“Closet girl,” I say and watch their eyes widen.

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